tear 1 of 2

noun

ˈter How to pronounce tear (audio)
Definition of tearnext
as in slit
a long deep cut repaired a tear in the theater curtain just before the start of the show

Synonyms & Similar Words

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tear

2 of 2

verb

ˈter How to pronounce tear (audio)
1
as in to rip
to cause (something) to separate into jagged pieces by violently pulling at it angrily tore the letter to shreds

Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in to yank
to separate or remove by forceful pulling tore the book from his hand

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to speed
to proceed or move quickly she tore out of the room as soon as the phone started to ring

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word tear different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of tear are cleave, rend, rip, rive, and split. While all these words mean "to separate forcibly," tear implies pulling apart by force and leaving jagged edges.

tear up the letter

When could cleave be used to replace tear?

In some situations, the words cleave and tear are roughly equivalent. However, cleave implies very forceful splitting or cutting with a blow.

a bolt of lightning cleaved the giant oak

When can rend be used instead of tear?

While in some cases nearly identical to tear, rend implies very violent or ruthless severing or sundering.

an angry mob rent the prisoner's clothes

In what contexts can rip take the place of tear?

The meanings of rip and tear largely overlap; however, rip implies a pulling apart in one rapid uninterrupted motion often along a line or joint.

ripped the shirt on a nail

When is rive a more appropriate choice than tear?

The words rive and tear can be used in similar contexts, but rive occurs most often in figurative use.

a political party riven by conflict

When would split be a good substitute for tear?

The words split and tear are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, split implies a cutting or breaking apart in a continuous, straight, and usually lengthwise direction or in the direction of grain or layers.

split logs for firewood

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of tear
Noun
The Galaxy lost midfielder Riqui Puig, its most irreplaceable player, to an ACL tear in November’s Western Conference final, a loss the GM likens to the Golden State Warriors losing Steph Curry. —Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 6 May 2025 Problems with surgery, including how often dangerous items are left in a patient’s body after surgery, how often surgical wounds split open and accidental cuts and tears. —Evan Moore may 6, Charlotte Observer, 6 May 2025
Verb
The violent storms tore through more than a dozen states, bringing hurricane-strength wind gusts, hail and tornadoes. —Jade Walker, CNN Money, 1 May 2025 If Simmons had not torn his patellar tendon, he would’ve been selected much earlier than No. 32. —Jeff Fedotin, Forbes.com, 30 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for tear
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tear
  1. slit
  2. rip
  3. yank
  4. speed
  5. scratch
  6. grab
  7. scurry
  8. race
Noun
  • It’s finished with a half-zip placket, front kangaroo pocket, and side slits.
    — Jamie Allison Sanders, People.com, 1 May 2025
  • The top portion of the dress featured an intricate embroidered in the center of the bodice, while the bottom was a flowing white skirt with a slit.
    — Renan Botelho, Footwear News, 26 Apr. 2025
Definition of slit
Verb
  • An 18-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of ripping down the flag.
    — Ishani Desai, Sacbee.com, 12 May 2025
  • Astronomers have caught a black hole far from the center of its home galaxy ripping a star to shreds — providing, for the first time, direct evidence of a rogue supermassive black hole in action.
    — Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 9 May 2025
Definition of rip
Verb
  • Soon thereafter, starving, Cage yanks the dead rat from the ground and holds it to his teeth, about to take a bite.
    — Rachel Handler, Vulture, 2 May 2025
  • Donald Trump is yanking federal funds from public media.
    — E. Tammy Kim, New Yorker, 2 May 2025
Definition of yank
Verb
  • This specifically is said to speed up the healing process and provide hydration on steroids.
    — Perrie Samotin, Glamour, 3 May 2025
  • By learning from historical data and classification patterns, AI can help reduce human error, speed up the classification process, and handle enormous product catalogs with ease.
    — Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 3 May 2025
Definition of speed
Noun
  • As a mother of three children with autoimmune issues, Chevrier said she is forced to shop at specialty stores or make everything from scratch.
    — Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, USA Today, 4 May 2025
  • Nowadays, there is less pressure to make everything from scratch and have a perfect home.
    — Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 3 May 2025
Definition of scratch
Verb
  • Combs returns to the scene shortly thereafter and appears to grab at the phone.
    — Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 14 May 2025
  • Rutgers teammates Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey might end up as No. 2 and No. 3 overall, but the Hornets will be able to grab one if not.
    — Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 13 May 2025
Definition of grab
Verb
  • Large bags of sugar sat unsealed on the tile floor, where cockroaches scurried around day and night.
    — Jordan Salama, New Yorker, 5 May 2025
  • James scurried after and hugged both his father and grandfathers' legs.
    — Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 May 2025
Definition of scurry
Verb
  • In an interview with the Sunday Times, which was published in May but conducted in March, Brooklyn Beckham, 26, credited his dad with inspiring his love of racing at a young age while discussing his experience at the Formula E Evo Sessions in Miami at the Miami International Autodrome.
    — Lori A Bashian, FOXNews.com, 12 May 2025
  • America’s gross domestic product, the broadest measure of the US economy, showed its first quarterly contraction since early 2022, as importers raced to bring in goods before punishing tariff rates kicked in.
    — Nectar Gan, CNN Money, 12 May 2025
Definition of race

Phrases Containing tear

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tea party
tear
tearaway
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Cite this Entry

“Tear.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tear. Accessed 16 May. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on tear

Nglish: Translation of tear for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about tear

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